Yelich, Gordon have special days as Marlins sweep Phillies

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Dee Gordon got his 200th hit of the season in the opener, and Christian Yelich tied a club record with hits in eight straight at-bats as the Miami Marlins won the nightcap 5-2 to complete a doubleheader sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies Saturday.

Yelich was 5 for 5 in the first game, a 7-6 victory, then hit safely in his first three at-bats in the second. In the first game, Gordon became the first Marlins player since Hanley Ramirez in 2007 to record 200 hits with a sixth-inning single.

”It really meant a lot to me,” Gordon said. ”I was a little nervous coming in today. I’m just proud it worked out.”

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The Phillies were assured last place in the NL East and the first pick in the 2016 draft.

Gordon went 4 for 9 on the day to raise his average to .331. He trails Washington’s Bryce Harper for the NL batting crown by .0001 entering Sunday’s final game.

Gordon also had a pair of steals to up his season total to 58, overtaking injured Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton for the league lead.

Philadelphia needs to win Sunday’s regular-season finale to avoid losing 100 games in a season for the 15th time in club history. With Cincinnati’s win over Pittsburgh Saturday night, the Phillies are assured the worst record in baseball and the top pick in next June’s amateur draft.

Yelich had six singles, a pair of doubles and two RBIs. His five hits were a career high, and Marcell Ozuna drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning of the opener.

Yelich grounded out to first base in the seventh inning of the nightcap with a chance to set a club record for consecutive hits.

Rookie left-hander Justin Nicolino (5-4) gave up two runs on six hits in seven innings to earn the Game 2 victory.

A.J. Ramos recorded his second save of the day by striking out the side in a scoreless ninth, earning his 32nd save in 38 chances.

Phillies rookie right-hander Alec Asher (0-6) failed to earn a win in his seven starts this season, allowing three runs on six hits in two innings.

Maikel Franco homered for Philadelphia in his first start since fracturing his left wrist on Aug. 11 when he was hit by a pitch.

The teams were forced to play a doubleheader after Friday night’s game was postponed due to rain.

In the nightcap, Justin Bour’s two-run double in the first put Miami in front 2-0, and the Marlins went up 3-0 on Yelich’s RBI double in the second.

Yelich singled with one out in the ninth off Ken Giles (6-3) and scored the tying run on Martin Prado’s triple to right. Prado scored the go-ahead run on Ozuna’s single to left.

”We played hard up until the end,” Yelich said.

It was just the second blown save for Giles since he took over for Jonathan Papelbon after the former Phillies closer was traded to Washington.

”He’s been fantastic; it happens,” Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. ”We had them where we wanted them, but we couldn’t put them away.”

Chris Narveson (3-1) tossed a scoreless eighth to earn the victory. Ramos kept the Phillies off the board in ninth, striking out pinch-hitter Franco with a man on second to end the game.

Brian Boguesvic homered and Odubel Herrera had three hits and an RBI for the Phillies.

The Phillies went ahead 6-5 in the sixth when Chase d’Arnaud scored on Freddy Galvis’ sacrifice fly.

Tom Koehler started for Miami and allowed four earned runs on six hits in five innings.

Phillies starter Aaron Harang gave up four runs – three earned – on eight hits in 5 2-3 innings.

COLD DAY

The doubleheader was played on a windy, rainy and cold day with an announced temperature of 57 degrees at game time of the opener. Fans in the announced crowd of 16,240 braved the conditions with blankets, hats, coats and other winter clothing.

”The conditions were pretty brutal,” Harang said.

END OF THE LINE?

Harang, a 14-year veteran, will become a free agent in the offseason. He was noncommittal on whether he’ll play in 2016.

”I have to go home and think about it and decide what I want to do,” he said. ”I feel like I can still pitch.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Phillies: 1B Ryan Howard (knee) sat out once again. Howard hasn’t played since injuring his knee on a play at first base on Sept. 14. All indications from manager Pete Mackanin are that Howard is done for the season.